Southwest Airlines on Monday will unveil the names of the cities it will serve out of Dallas Love Field when the carrier finally escapes its federally imposed handcuffs.

The Wright amendment, a 1980 federal law that limits service out of the Dallas airport, doesn’t expire until Oct. 13.

But Dallas-based Southwest will be spending the year leading up to that date whipping up excitement about the upcoming milestone. And on Monday, it’ll add the latest part — naming the cities that will get nonstop service out of Dallas.

Southwest officials have sidestepped questions about possible destinations in the past, although they’ve suggested that Southwest’s busiest airports are logical targets to serve out of Dallas.

In terms of flights, Southwest’s No. 1 airport right now is Chicago Midway with 244 flights, followed by Las Vegas and Baltimore with more than 200 flights each. After that in order come Denver, Atlanta and Phoenix.

Swelbar, executive vice president of InterVISTAS Consulting LLC, also listed Washington Reagan National Airport and New York LaGuardia as logical spots to get nonstop service out of Dallas.

While Southwest’s presence is small at both those airports, it is acquiring additional operating rights that American Airlines Inc. is being forced to give up to settle a federal antitrust lawsuit.

Swelbar suggested Nashville, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle as other potential destinations.

Consumers shouldn’t look for any non-U.S. cities on the list. Federal law will continue to bar nonstop international service out of Love Field past Oct. 13.

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